Welcome to RockSquawk.com, magical web portal to Albuquerque’s local music scene. Come here to find out when local shows are happening, post your own shows, look for a new band member, discuss your amp, trade equipment or
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For many the lo-fi, folk-rock “movement” of the late-'90s begins and ends with Neutral Milk Hotel. Originally formed in Ruston, La. by singer/guitarist Jeff Mangum as a recording project, it wasn’t until the 1996 release of On Avery Island that Neutral Milk Hotel became a full-fledged band. The budding foursome relocated to New York, where they would finish their short-lived career with an exhaustive tour for sophomore release In the Aeroplane Over the Sea way back in 1998. Think Sebadoh-meets-Guided by Voices. Critically acclaimed yet largely ignored by the mainstream record-buying public, the album eventually became something of a legend in its own time.
Fast-forward 16 years, and NMH has become the progenitor of such roundly lauded bands as Arcade Fire, Bon Iver and Franz Ferdinand, and their music has been covered by Brand New, The Dresden Dolls and The Mountain Goats. After a lengthy hiatus, Neutral Milk Hotel has finally reunited to embark on a reunion tour featuring the lineup from their seminal release, In the Aeroplane. This show is for old and new fans alike—yes, even indie-folk has made a strong comeback in recent years—and In the Aeroplane is, for many, still the defining release of the genre’s first wave, seamlessly blending folk, rock, psychedelic and shoegaze into one succinct package. Neutral Milk Hotel's all-ages concert at Kiva Auditorium (401 Second Street NW) tomorrow night is a must-see. The show happens at 7:30pm; tickets start at $36, and lo-fi indie-pop group Elf Power opens. Kiva Auditorium, Albuquerque Convention Center • Thu Apr 17 • 7:30pm • $36-$51 • ALL-AGES! • View on Alibi calendar
The alt music scene here in the 1990s was a diverse and fertile workshop for sounds that varied from sludgy proto-grunge and pure punk-rock to melodic, danceable and jazzy reggae and ska. Perhaps the local band that best personified the latter description in this burg's old-school narrative was Giant Steps.
A ska band active in Burque from 1993 to 1999, Otto Barthel, Rob Kerley, Tom Siegel and company have made it a matter of habit to regularly schedule reunion shows here in town, much to the delight of lingering fans and plain old folks who just wanna dance the night away. The eight-piece Giant Steps return with their “in your face” horn section and their “rude” rhythm section for their latest reunion concert tomorrow at Launchpad (618 Central SW). CrazyFool and The Reagan Motels open the show. Doors for this 21-plus show open at 8pm, and tickets are available through holdmyticket.com. Launchpad • Sat Apr 5 • 9:30pm • View on Alibi calendar
A Friday afternoon concert is just the thing to psych you up for a weekend of jamming out and rocking on. Complete this motivational sonic ritual with The Appleseed Collective, which plays VSA North Fourth Art Center (4904 Fourth Street NW) on Friday, March 14, at 12:30pm. Part of an essential concert series aimed at bringing musical experience to the developmentally disabled artists who work and create at N4th, this recital is an excellent opportunity to catch Americana folk ensemble The Appleseed Collective.
The quintet plays a form of American music that has roots in Dixieland, bluegrass and European folk traditions, but remains original and postmodern in its execution; the Collective is thoroughly listenable and full of melodic, rhythmic surprises. Tight chops and the group's youthful, hip performative style make this free, all-ages gig a shouldn't-miss. With merely 60 seats available, reserve your spot today at Amp Concerts website at bit.ly/applesamp. After the show, don’t forget to check out the amazing work of N4th artists and staff. N4th Theater • Fri Mar 14 • 12:30pm • FREE • View on Alibi calendar
Reggae legend Derrick “Duckie” Simpson brings the latest incarnation of Black Uhuru to the Duke City tomorrow. The band, featuring Duckie, Andrew Bees and Kay Starr, will wrap up their tour of the western US when they drop a million pounds of groovy, luscious, high-grade reggae goodness on the Sunshine Theater (120 Central SW) tomorrow night.
In one configuration or another, the band has purveyed a defining sound in reggae since the early '70s. With collaborators like Keith Richards and a few Grammy nominations under his belt, Simpson remains a contender. This Black Uhuru tour also showcases the artist’s willingness to joyfully acknowledge the next generation.
Opening the show on a highly transformative set of notes, rootstronica (an eclectic mix of roots reggae, dancehall, prog-rock and electronica) act Indubious features brothers Evton B and Skip Wicked Burton. This could very likely be one hell of a smokin’ concert … I'm just sayin'. Tickets to this all-ages affair are $20. The music starts at 8pm. Sunshine Theater • Sun Feb 16 • 8pm • $20 • View on Alibi calendar
A most excellent thing to do this weekend would be visiting with and having a listen to the Adobe Brothers, one of Burque’s most listenable combos. This goal can be readily accomplished by trucking on over to Shade Tree Custom Cycles and Café (3411 Central NE) tonight. The freewheeling Nob Hill grub-and-tire joint hosts a performance by Jacoby, Moby, Pierogi and Toby Adobe, starting 'round 7pm. The Brothers describe their music as “international bluegrass” in Americana form. While that's certainly a decent description of their output, the chops on these four gentlemen relatives—plus the awesome musical cred they carry around in their gig bags—are well worth the attention of local music aficionados. With over 200 numbers in their repertoire, you're bound to find some twangy tunes to get you onto the dance floor. Shade Tree is just up the road a ways from the Guild and across the street from some joint called Flying Star. Jump on in, 'cause the bluegrass is just fine. Shade Tree Custom Cycles and Cafe • Sat Nov 30 • 7pm • FREE • ALL-AGES! • View on Alibi calendar
I saw They Might be Giants perform at a small, crowded college bar in Tempe, Arizona in 1992. Before it began, it had already been a long night; two of the grad students I was with were vomiting uncontrollably before we even got to the venue. That was back when the two Johns had a canned band supporting them and Dial-A-Song was at the forefront of electronic music sharing technology. While my primos drifted in and out of a tequila-troubled consciousness, I sat back with a pack of Camel squares and an iced tea and listened. Despite technical limitations, multi-intrumentalists Linnell and Flansburgh put on a hell of a show. Their set was plaintive and frenetic, all at once, with songs that veered from pastiche to ponderous to pure pop without the brutality of Ween or the swagger of Zappa. Twenty years later, TMBG have added backing musicians, recorded a voluminous catalogue of crazy, beautiful music, grown and maintained a loyal fan base and continue to tour on the strength of their new work. TMBG will be supporting their latest Nanobots—and likely digging merrily into the past, too—when they play the Sunshine on tonight at 8pm. I’ll probably be up in the balcony, nursing a soda pop—well away from the distractions of my previous encounter with these gentlemen. Sunshine Theater • Thu Oct 24 • 8pm • $22 • View on Alibi calendar
London-based stoner metal stalwart Orange Goblin has been wrecking necks for 18 years. In its first year, the band went by the moniker Our Haunted Kingdom, but since '95, the name Orange Goblin has been synonymous with oh-so-heavy. Check out some of the group's seven full-lengths—Frequencies from Planet Ten, Time Travelling Blues, Coup de Grace and Healing Through Fire are personal faves—and experience the fearsome foursome live at Sister (407 Central NW) tonight. Admittance to the 21-and-over gig—also featuring Holy Grail and Lazer/Wulf—is 10 bones. Pop in your earplugs and start drooling over OG vocalist Ben Ward's luscious locks at 9pm. Sister • Tue Oct 1 • 9pm • $10 • 21+ • View on Alibi calendar
Catch Wilmington, N.C.-based metal trio Weedeater at Launchpad (618 Central SW) on Saturday. The stoner/sludge stalwart is sweet 16 and continues to crank out concentrated low-end rawk. Fellow Wilmingtonian southern/stoner foursome ASG—signed to Relapse Records and touring in support of their latest release, Blood Drive—adds to the cacophony. Legendary local metal-worshipper crew Black Maria reps the 505 Marshall stack set. Pop in your earplugs at 9:30 p.m., and make sure to stretch your neck 'cause this 21-and-over gig calls for a limber spine, serious hearing protection and a $12 cover. Launchpad • Sat Jul 6 • 9:30 pm • $12 • View on Alibi calendar
Lawrence, Kan.-based post-rock foursome The Appleseed Cast is relentlessly touring in support of their latest full-length, Illumination Ritual. While the work produced by the group doesn't exactly break new ground, that's not necessarily a bad thing. Making music together since '97, the Appleseed boys have damn near perfected the experimental indie/post-rock formula. Judge for yourself tonight at Launchpad (618 Central SW). Fellow Kansas crew Hospital Ships (who are signed to Graveface Records), sci-fi riffin' foursome Ghost Circles and acoustic indie-rock outfit Bellemah open the 21-and-over gig starting at 9 p.m. Tickets are only $10. Launchpad • Tue May 21 • 9 pm • $10 • View on Alibi calendar
Everyone needs to get out of the house—no, work doesn't count—every now and again. I personally plan to do some R&R creepin' at Synchro Studio (512-B Yale SE) this evening. What could lure a dyed-in-the-wool recluse like me out and about? Samantha Glass. I've been a fan of Madison, Wis.-based synth hunk Beau Devereaux's work for a month of Sundays, and tonight he brings Burque "synthetic melodies remind[ing] one that moonlight can illuminate space in as striking a manner as any old mass of incandescent gas." Devereaux is touring with stellar Milwaukeean one-woman minimal synth/cold wave act Stacian. Highway dream-pop duo Dripping Rainbow and the inimitable Alan George Ledergerber rep our enchanted local scene. Peep related A/V below. Synchro Studio • Samantha Glass • Stacian • Dripping Rainbow • Alan George Ledergerber • Wed May 15 • 9 pm • $7 • ALL-AGES!
